Turning tips into memories

Must-see art exhibitions outside London

From the sculptural elegance of Naum Gabo at Tate St Ives to the bold sculptures of Anish Kapoor at Houghton Hall, these are the top shows to leave the capital for this spring

Art Deco by the Sea, Sainsbury Century, Norwich

This exhibition celebrates the art and architecture of coastal resorts in the 1920s and 1930s. This was a new age of freedom and mass tourism, typified by elegance and style. There are 150 works in this show, from paintings, posters and brochures, to photographs, fashion and furniture.

WHEN

9 February – 14 June 2020

WHERE

Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norfolk Road, Norwich NR4 7TJ

Naum Gabo, Tate St Ives, Cornwall

This exhibition presents the sculptures, paintings and drawings of one of Europe's most influential constructivists. Naum Gabo's was a contemporary of Barbara Hepworth, who lived just a stone's throw away from where Tate St Ives now stands and it is possible to see similarities in the works. These two worked in an age where design and pared-back elegance were believed to reflect the very essence of modernity.

WHEN

Until 3 May

WHERE

Tate St Ives, Porthmeor Beach St Ives Cornwall TR26 1TG

Marking the centenary: Future Forest, Thetford

Tom Piper, designer of the popular poppy installation for the WW1 anniversary, creates a second public display to commemorate the centenary. Future Forest unveils on the Norfolk-Suffolk border on 4 October for 8 months. Featuring bright and mysterious life-size models drawn from classical literature, Piper collaborates with acclaimed sculptor Lisa Wright. The sculptures are made from bio-resin instead of plastic, so viewers consider their role as forest custodians.

WHEN

Until 30 May

WHERE

Thetford Forest, High Lodge, Brandon, IP27 0AF

The Half, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

For 35 years, photographer Simon Annand has been wandering the backstage corridors and dressing rooms of the UK's theatres, capturing that magical half hour before an actor steps out on stage. An exhibition at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield showcases the fruits of Annand's labour with images including portraits of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Meera Syal and a very young looking Colin Firth.

WHEN

Until 29 Feb

WHERE

The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen’s Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield HD1 2SP

Feast and Fast: The Art of Food in Europe, Fizwilliam Museum, Cambridge

This exhibition explores the production, preparation, and presentation of food with nearly 300 objects spanning 1500 to 1800. Highlights include an English 18th-century confectioner’s shop window and a sugar banquet fit for a Renaissance wedding. This fun exhibition is a feast for the eyes.

WHEN

Until 26 April 2020

WHERE

Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RB

Leonardo: A Life in Drawing, The Queens Gallery, Edinburgh

If you missed the stellar Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in London this summer and are planning a trip to Edinburgh, head to Holyroodhouse. This touring exhibition is on in Edinburgh until 15 March.

WHEN

Until 15 March

WHERE

The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX

Anish Kapoor, Houghton Hall, Norfolk

21 sculptures and a selection of drawings spanning 40 years of Anish Kapoor's career will go on display at Houghton Hall. These illustrious surroundings will provide an fascinating juxtaposition for the sculptor's varied works.

WHEN

29 March – 27 September 2020

WHERE

Houghton Hall, Norfolk, PE31 6TY

Young Rembrandt, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

This exhibition charts the rise of one of the greatest artists who ever lived. Rembrandt was a prodigious talent, and this show will explore his career from the earliest drawings, right up to the moment he became the biggest artist Amsterdam had ever produced.

WHEN

27 Feb – 7 June. Open daily 10am – 5pm

WHERE

Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2PH

Anish Kapoor, Into yourself, Fall, Windmill Hill, Near Waddesdon Manor

This virtual reality piece by Anish Kapoor will take visitors 'on a journey through the human body.' The virtual adventure will begin in a forest, and continue through a labyrinth of tunnels that aim to simulate the 'inner self.'

WHEN

Wed 25 March – Sun 5 April

WHERE

Windmill Hill, Near Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Aylesbury HP18 0JH

We Will Walk, Turner Contemporary, Margate

This exhibition takes a look at the art of the American South shaped by the Civil Rights Movement. It will bring together the work of more than 20 African American artists from Alabama and the surrounding states, with sculpture, painting and quilts all made to made by individuals living though great struggles and often poverty.

WHEN

7 Feb – 3 May. Monday – Friday 11am – 6pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am – 6pm

WHERE

Turner Contemporary Rendezvous Margate Kent CT9 1HG

This Living Hand: Edmund de Waal Presents Henry Moore, Hertfordshire

The Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Hertfordshire is holding an exhibition curated by the celebrated ceramicist Edmund de Waal. The exhibition will focus on the tactile nature of Moore's work and visitors will be encouraged to some of the sculptures.

WHEN

3 April – 25 October, Wednesdays – Sundays 1am – 5pm

WHERE

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens Dane Tree House Perry Green Hertfordshire SG10 6EE